Three-time Canadian Olympian Marie-Michèle Gagnon has introduced she is going to retire from alpine ski racing on the conclusion of the World Cup season.
The 33-year-old from Lac-Etchemin, Que., is the lone established downhiller on the nation’s ladies’s staff, and can bow out with greater than 270 World Cup begins — probably the most a Canadian skier.
Coming off a crash within the downhill occasion in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, Gagnon is not going to compete on this weekend’s downhill competitors on the world championships in Meribel, France, however will proceed on in super-G occasions for the rest of the World Cup season.
She mentioned pulling out of the downhill was not a simple choice.
“I used to be actually placing numerous emphasis on this race and the world championships, however sadly after the crash in Cortina … I did not get my confidence again,” Gagnon mentioned Friday. “It was clear to me as soon as I did the primary coaching run for downhill, and even within the Super-G, I used to be not myself. I used to be not clear in my head and not likely eager to take dangers. This will not be the model of myself that I actually wish to present.”
WATCH | Gagnon wins World Cup bronze in 2021:
Gagnon captures first World Cup alpine medal of the season for Canada
Lac-Etchemin, Quebec’s Marie-Michele Gagnon captured her first World Cup alpine medal in nearly 5 years as she received bronze within the tremendous G at Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany Saturday.
Gagnon says her retirement plans have been months within the making.
“I used to be certain by December … earlier than the majority of the season and many of the races,” she mentioned. “[The retirement] will not be associated to outcomes or this crash in Cortina.
“It was extra this sense that it’s time.”
Pair of World Cup gold medals
Gagnon received 5 World Cup medals in her profession, together with gold in alpine mixed in each 2014 and 2016.
She positioned eighth in ladies’s downhill on the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and has completed within the top-10 at 5 world championships.
Gagnon’s eight Olympic alpine ski racing begins is tied for probably the most ever by a Canadian lady.
Along with over 270 World Cup begins, she has 23 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships begins, additionally greater than every other Canadian.
Gagnon is engaged to American ski racer Travis Ganong.
